In 12th century Ireland, the old ways of Druidism and prophecy are coming into conflict with the new ways of Christianity. Orlagh has been the Royal SIn 12th century Ireland, the old ways of Druidism and prophecy are coming into conflict with the new ways of Christianity. Orlagh has been the Royal Seer to her chieftain for over 40 years. Recently, though, the chieftain has been disregarding Orlagh’s visions, to the detriment of the tribe. While Orlagh honors the old ways and the Fey Folk, she walks a fine line and knows that she must balance her gift of prophecy against the teachings of the new church, and tries to give proper credit to the new Christian god for her abilities. She knows, though, that her long life is soon to end, and since she is the only living member of her family left, she must find a worthy heir to whom she can pass on her family brooch, a faerie brooch that gives its owner magical abilities. In exchange for knowledge needed to fulfill her mission, Orlagh makes a deal with a faerie Lord. At the same time, her long-lost grandson, Declan, turns up, having traveled from town to town after the death of his parents. Declan is plagued by bad luck, mostly brought on by his poor decision-making skills and laziness, but his new sweetheart has given him a reinvigorated outlook on life and he is determined to make himself into a man worthy of her. When Declan and Orlagh reunite, will he be able to live up to everyone’s expectations, or will he revert to his past tendencies? And what of Orlagh’s agreement with the faerie Lord? For, as everyone knows, one does not lightly enter into a contract with the Fey…

Christy Nicholas has done it again with another vibrant, fast-paced, gripping tale. The tensions between the folk who incorporate the older ways into their daily habits and the priests of the Christian church are strong throughout. The cast of characters is complex and well drawn. I enjoyed Orlagh a great deal. She reminded me in many ways of my grandmother. I also tremendously appreciated reading a story where the protagonist was a woman older than 60. That’s not something readers get to see a whole lot of and it’s a shame, really. Older characters have a great deal to offer, so it is nice to see an older main character who is honored and respected. I hated Declan, as I think we were supposed to. Maybe he was supposed to instill some sympathy since we probably all know someone who can’t get out of their own way and keep making the same stupid mistakes, but I lack sympathy for people who can’t learn from their mistakes or who bring bad things upon themselves because they’re too lazy to work. I loved Cu-Ulaidh and absolutely adored the way he doted on Orlagh. I feel that Clodagh, Orlagh’s ward, could have been developed more, as well as her back story, but overall, this was a delightful read. ...more

In a medieval-ish Russian setting, Vasya is the daughter her mother most wanted, and the one who ultimately killed her. Growing up half wild at the edIn a medieval-ish Russian setting, Vasya is the daughter her mother most wanted, and the one who ultimately killed her. Growing up half wild at the edge of a deep forest, Vasya’s father eventually decides that he should remarry so that Vasya can have a mother. However, her new stepmother is city-bred and zealously religious. She forbids her household or the villagers from practicing the traditional rituals of honoring the spirits of the hearth, forest, and meadows which will protect their homes. Vasya knows this is wrong and is afraid, and she is right to fear. The crops and animals start dying, drought comes, and horrifying creatures straight out of Vasya’s nurse’s fairy tales begin walking the night. Her stepmother, convinced that Vasya is the cause of all the troubles, is determined that Vasya will either marry or go to a convent by midwinter. Vasya has to rely on her own talents, which she has kept hidden out of fear of being killed as a witch, to save her family and village.

“Vasilisa the Fair” is one of my favorite Russian fairy tales, and “East of the Sun, West of the Moon” is another of my favorites. This novel makes me think of both of these stories, drawing heavily from myth and folklore from a wide range of cultures. The setting is brutal and atmospheric - I got cold listening to parts of this! But I loved imagining the way the houses were set up and was curious about the stoves the family slept on. I had to look it up and learned a lot about the Russian oven! I loved the characters of the home, the house spirits and the men and women and the horses. Such horses! And Vasya is a tremendous character, brave and honest. I can’t wait to see what Arden comes up with for her next novel, which is supposedly set in the same world.

My only complaint is that the narration was a tad slow at times. But in general, I enjoyed listening to this on audiobook because I am unfamiliar with the Russian language. I would have been completely unable to pronounce the words correctly. I appreciated hearing them spoken aloud for me. ...more

In 12th century England, times are turbulent. Tensions between the lower class Saxon English and ruling class Norman nobles simmer, and The Anarchy isIn 12th century England, times are turbulent. Tensions between the lower class Saxon English and ruling class Norman nobles simmer, and The Anarchy is at its peak. This debut historical novel opens in the middle of these times, in a small town with a young boy, Wimer. He is a bright boy but, as a Saxon peasant, has few opportunities. His luck changes when he comes to the notice of the local priest, who sponsors his attendance at a school in Norwich. From there, Wimer has the option of becoming a monk or a chaplain. He decides to become a chaplain and go out into the world. He makes a name for himself in the service of Hugh Bigod, and is able to leave that house and work directly for Henry II as the High Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk. In the course of discharging his duties, he runs afoul of Thomas Becket and is excommunicated, twice by Becket and once by the Pope. He also has a doomed love for Ida de Toscny, Henry’s ward. Eventually, Wimer is reinstated into the Church but in order to feel truly free of his mortal sins, both from his rifts with his religious superiors and because of his love for Ida, Wimer decides he needs to return to a life devoted to the Church and make an act of spectacular penitence.

Sheriff and Priest was a delightful novel. There are several novels available which tell the tale of The Anarchy, all told from the perspective of Henry II or Eleanor of Aquitaine, or perhaps from various other nobles. Getting the perspective of a man who began life as a Saxon peasant is a unique take, and a refreshing change. Wimer is a complex and sympathetic figure. He overthinks just about everything and makes life a lot harder for himself in many ways, which is a very believable character trait. Some of the secondary characters could have been fleshed out a little more, but the people readers encountered the most were not flat and were developed enough for the purpose. The only thing that was a little jarring was the reference to Thomas a’Becket. He wasn’t referred to as such during his life, and not until at least the Post-Reformation. Nitpicky thing, yes, but noticeable. Overall, though, this novel was full of wonderful medieval detail and flowed swiftly across the page. Highly recommended. ...more

The Last Hours is the account of one demesne, Develish, and its occupants as they struggle to survive and make sense of their terrifying new world inThe Last Hours is the account of one demesne, Develish, and its occupants as they struggle to survive and make sense of their terrifying new world in the grip of the bubonic plague. Lady Anne of Develish is left behind with her daughter, Eleanor, when her husband, Sir Richard, heads out to the neighboring demesne of Foxcote, intending on securing a husband for Eleanor. Instead, they encounter the pestilence and death. Lady Anne, convent raised and well educated, knows enough about health and healing to understand the importance of cleanliness and quarantine, and so orders her serfs within the walls of the manor and then seals off the manor, not allowing anyone to enter or leave. Sir Richard and his retinue return to find the manor barred against them and all but one of them die outside the walls. Anne surreptitiously send her steward, Thaddeus, a bastard serf, outside the walls on reconnaissance with the surviving member of Sir Richard’s retinue, Gyles, the captain of the guard. Eventually, Gyles is allowed to return within the walls when it is clear he does is not sick with the plague. Within Develish’s walls, serfs unused to inactivity are beginning to get stir crazy, stores are running low, and then a murder occurs. Thaddeus takes five young men, sons of the leading serfs, with him outside the walls to go in search of more supplies, and to help cover a scandal that could shatter the fragile peace Anne has created and which her daughter Eleanor seems determined to destroy.

This was a fast-paced and fun historical novel overall. The descriptions of the land and clothes were vibrant, and the effects of the plague were terrifyingly real. It seems that Walters did some thorough research on both, which is much appreciated. There were quite a few other areas that required a huge suspension of disbelief, and which were a bit too much to overcome - noblewomen with basically modern sensibilities teaching their serfs to read comes to mind - which draw away from the historical quality of the story. I think the same effect could have been achieved simply by acknowledging historical fact - so many deaths did occur that skilled serfs and farmers were needed and they could move up the social ladder in ways that hadn’t been open to them prior to the plague. Fact. Teaching the serfs to read isn’t necessary for that to have happened within the story, and it would have been more believable in the end. Just my two cents.

The characters were well developed and all were interesting, even the ones you love to hate. Anne was a more complex character than she first appears, and it becomes more apparent as the plot comes to its climax. Some intriguing questions are posed about her character and personality and I hope that they are answered in the next book. Thaddeus is intriguing, even if I don’t believe that such a man would really have existed, or not very likely, and I hope to know more about him as well. Gyles is one of my favorites and I want him to get more of the limelight. Eleanor is odious and I want to know how she ends up. There are too many unanswered questions and I am really excited that the book specifically said “to be continued” at the end, because I would be so unhappy otherwise.

I am eagerly looking forward to the next instalment, literate serfs and all. ...more

In Deeds of Darkness, the tenth installment of the Hugh de Singleton medieval mystery series, the titular character Hugh, Oxford surgeon, is called toIn Deeds of Darkness, the tenth installment of the Hugh de Singleton medieval mystery series, the titular character Hugh, Oxford surgeon, is called to help investigate a murder. The victim turns out to be one of his friends, Hubert. He had been killed, while traveling between Oxford and Bampton, by a group of goliards, a band of lawless young men who had at one time been scholars but had, for one reason or another, left their studies before they finished their degrees. Hugh has to figure out ways to deal with them when they have protection that is far above him in social rank, and to bring his friend’s killer to justice. As Hugh investigates, more murders occur, and the pressure increases to uncover the identity of the men responsible for the crimes.

As with all of Starr’s previous novels, Deeds of Darkness is chock full of thoroughly researched detail and interesting tidbits of daily medieval life. The characters are well fleshed-out and believable, making readers either care a great deal about their well-being or hope they really get a good comeuppance. Hugh remains an intriguing man, complex and honest without being annoyingly pedantic, as some protagonists can be. Most of the secondary characters are pretty well rounded, though I felt that Kate, Hugh’s wife, was overlooked. To be fair, she doesn’t have a large role in this novel, but she seemed like an afterthought. Overall, though, this is a fine addition not only to the Hugh de Singleton series but to the medieval mystery genre as a whole.

Not really an Arthurian legend, more Arthurian-adjacent. It featured Alden du Lac, the son of a certain Lancelot du Lac. Set in the 5th century, it taNot really an Arthurian legend, more Arthurian-adjacent. It featured Alden du Lac, the son of a certain Lancelot du Lac. Set in the 5th century, it takes actual historical events and people and superimposes an Arthurian spin on them in a believable and not-grating way. I hate when authors take real events and fuck them up or change them and make it inaccurate, but that is NOT the case here. This was historically accurate as far as the events and people, inasmuch as it could be, and was a fun story.

I loved the characters. Alden was tormented and uncertain. His younger brother Merton is just plain old fun, but also flawed and broken. Annis is learning to be a woman unto herself and find her own value. These are not perfect people, nor would I like them much if they were written as such.

The only thing I didn't like about this was that it needed a serious edit. There were numerous grammar errors and typos throughout.

This was a wonderful read overall and I am looking forward to the next in the series....more

Medieval mysteries is a genre that is flooded with many similar stories, characters that often blend into one another, and settings that are sometimes indistinguishable from one series to the next. It is a genre in which novels can be easily lost in sameness. However, that never seems to happen with Jeri Westerson’s medieval noir novels. Season of Blood, the 10th in the Crispin Guest series, remains as fun and intriguing as the first. In this instalment, Crispin finds himself embroiled in solving the murder of not one but two Cistercian monks, finding the missing niece of an alluring lady, and at the crux of it all is a holy relic containing the blood of Christ, which flows only for the pure of heart.

Crispin is hired by a lady, Catherine Whitechurch, to find her niece who has been seduced by a married man. The married man is none other than Crispin’s old nemesis, the former sheriff Simon Wynchcombe. No sooner had Catherine paid her initial fee than a Cicertian monk shows up at Crispin’s door and drops dead, Wynchcombe’s dagger between his shoulderblades and a stolen monstrance containing the flowing blood of Christ in his hands. Crispin and his apprentice, Jack Tucker, take off to solve the crime, find Wynchcombe and the missing young woman, and return the relic to its rightful place. The result is a fun and exciting romp through the streets of medieval London. Longtime readers of the series should be delighted with the return of Wynchcombe as well as the beloved characters of John Rykener (a historical cross dressing prostitute) and Nigellus Cobmartin, lawyer extraordinaire. I was personally thrilled with...well, I won’t spoil it. But there was a minor plot point that happened that had me grinning from ear to ear. All in all, this is another excellent addition to both the Crispin Guest series and to the canon of medieval mysteries overall. Highly recommended. ...more

Set in the earlier years of William the Conqueror’s rule over Normandy, An Argument of Blood opens with him as a young, arrogant duke, although he makes a concerted effort to become a mature leader when an assassination attempt forces him to flee in the middle of the night. The story then follows him through the Battle of Val-ès-Dunes and the nearly continuous warfare of the later 1040s to mid-1050s.

Across the Channel, readers meet Ælfgyfa, youngest daughter of Godwin, Jarl of Wessex. She is highly intelligent, her father’s favorite daughter, but her mother, Gytha, can’t stand her. Ælfgyfa is deformed, possibly from a cleft palate, though there is little historical evidence to support that. Overlooked and ignored, she learns to read people well, becoming invaluable as a pseudo-spy to her brother Harold Godwinson and his wife Edith Swanneck, and later to her other sister, Eadgyth, queen consort to Edward the Confessor. Eventually, Ælfgyfa and her younger brother Wulfnoth become political hostages to William, a common practice, in exchange for the good behavior of Godwin, who is accused of treason. The plot entwines the families nicely, as it happened in history, and establishes a solid base for the rest of the series.

The novel comes equipped with a lot of action and intrigue. Many of the characters are well developed, but I loved Ælfgyfa. She is clever, witty, and complex. When historical information is lacking, authors get to play and fill in gaps, and Willis and Ironside use the Saxon culture to make her a realistic and sympathetic though not always likeable character. I also enjoyed the portrayal of Edward the Confessor; the authors’ twist on his “pious” nature is very interesting. The depth of cultural detail, both for the Saxons and the Normans, adds a lot of color. I am looking forward to the next book. Strongly recommended!...more

I picked this one up because I was intrigued by the idea of a person who so thoroughly immersed himself in medieval reenactment that he never wanted tI picked this one up because I was intrigued by the idea of a person who so thoroughly immersed himself in medieval reenactment that he never wanted to leave it. As a medievalist and scholar of Hildegard of Bingen, I can understand that appeal. In the end, though, the people were all whiny little bitches lacking real growth or depth and it was ultimately a book about wealthy white man problems. Meh....more

The Colour of Cold Blood is the third in the Sebastian Foxley series by Toni mount, and the second full length novel. This time, Seb and his older broThe Colour of Cold Blood is the third in the Sebastian Foxley series by Toni mount, and the second full length novel. This time, Seb and his older brother Jude are trying hard to run their scrivener’s shop and live a normal life. Seb is trying to enjoy married life with Emily, whom he wed in the preceding novella, The Colour of Gold. Seb is dealing with daily medieval life and its troubles - running his shop, managing rambunctious apprentices, making ends meet even though the local clergy keep asking for fancy psalters for free. There’s also the small problem of someone murdering local prostitutes, and Seb’s journeyman, Gabe, is arrested for heresy on top of it.

I found this to be a quick read, full of nice nuances of medieval London life. It was a tad slow to get into the actual plot of the two separate mysteries, but I enjoyed the minutia enough that it didn’t bother me. Other readers who want more action right off the bat might find it a bit slow going. But the plot involving the murders of the prostitutes is intriguing, and presents Seb with a very interesting problem - how can he teach Rose, a prostitute he met and befriended (no, really) how to read and better her situation in life without Emily thinking the wrong thing? And his plan to rescue Gabe from Newgate and a heretic’s execution is fun, though it perhaps requires a little more suspension of disbelief than I think most readers can likely muster.

One thing that really confounded me, however, was Emily herself. I fully admit that I haven’t read the first book of the series. I read the novella, which was my first introduction to the series and the characters, and now this third instalment. Unless Emily was very different in the first book, she seems to have undergone a sea change from the novella to this novel. In the novella, she was sweet but had a good deal of spark and seemed the sort who wouldn’t be shy to speak up for herself. In ...Cold Blood, she was an absolute shrew throughout. The change was jarring, as was another plot point involving her, which I will not discuss so as to avoid spoilers, but which seemed to come out of the blue. Seb seemed consistent and the little apprentice boys, especially Jack, were thoroughly developed, but some of the other characters seemed inconsistent even within the story.

Overall, while I enjoyed the novel in general, there were a few quibbles I had with it. I think if you are looking for a quick airplane read, this would do nicely, but if you want something more substantial with deeper character and plot development, another novel would be a better option. ...more

The Colour of Blood novella by Toni Mount was actually my entree into the the Sebastian Foxley medieval mystery series, and it was enough to whet my aThe Colour of Blood novella by Toni Mount was actually my entree into the the Sebastian Foxley medieval mystery series, and it was enough to whet my appetite for more. It is actually the second entry in the series, but each story is written with the intention of being able to stand on its own. The novella focuses on the weddng day of Sebastian and his sweetheart, Emily. The tradition of borrowing a livery collar from one’s guild is showcased in this story. Things go awry, however, when Seb’s livery collar turns out to be a fake. Seb, his brother Jude, and a fairly charming street urchin named Jack have to figure out where the real collar is before Seb himself is accused of stealing it and ending his marriage before it has a chance to begin.

I found this story to be sweet and entertaining, if a trifle too innocent. I don’t know if it was just because it was a novella and by default couldn’t go into more depth, but the mystery was a little too conveniently wrapped up, the characters just this side of oversimplified. However, I still enjoyed the story and the setting, and it is obvious that Mount does excellent research. I was entertained and intrigued enough by Sebastian to want to read more, and so am in the process of reading the third book of the series, and went back and bought the first one as well. I would not do that if I didn’t find the story, writing, research, and characters worthwhile, and I am looking forward to getting to know this new medieval character better. ...more

In her debut novel, Winawer scratches one of my literary itches: plague! There is rather a shortage of decent novels about the Black Death, in my opinion. Admittedly, I have a morbid fascination with it, but I am still selective in what I read and expect that to be well-written and well-researched. This novel hit most of my requirements.

The novel opens in modern New York where Beatrice Trovato, a neurosurgeon, has recently learned that her brother, a medieval scholar based in Siena, has unexpectedly died and left his home and research to her. She travels to Siena and discovers that he was on the trail of an academic breakthrough which would explain why medieval Siena was hit so hard by the plague and failed to recover. During the course of following her brother’s academic investigation, Beatrice has a timeslip and falls into medieval Siena, à la Outlander, in 1347, just before the bubonic plague struck; she has to rely on her knowledge of the future to survive. Along the way, Beatrice is astonished to realize not only the truth about her brother’s research, but also that she is becoming more at home in the past than in the future.

While this novel doesn’t incorporate the modern versus medieval elements quite as smoothly as some other timeslip novels, and it occasionally requires greater than the usual suspension of disbelief, it was still one of the most fun books I’ve read in a long time. It has quite a lot of great medical knowledge woven in, as well as a surprising amount of art history and information about scribes and papermaking. All in all, it is a thoroughly enjoyable read....more

I loved this book. It's a quiet little story about the life of a medieval peasant woman, Marion. She is an Everywoman figure, filling in for us all, sI loved this book. It's a quiet little story about the life of a medieval peasant woman, Marion. She is an Everywoman figure, filling in for us all, showing us Woman as the heart of the family and community. She sees the beauty in all things even while she struggles to keep her family fed and healthy. Literally nothing happens in the novel, and yet everything happens, and in the end Marion figures that no matter what, all shall be well....more

In this ninth installment of Westerson’s Crispin Guest medieval noir series, we find Crispin himself playing a supporting role as his apprentice, Jack Tucker, takes the lead. A mysterious man hires a very drunk Crispin to kill a woman. Crispin, his chivalrous nature horrified at the very idea, instead goes to warn her. Beguiled by her beauty, he ends up in bed with her, eventually passing out from the alcohol. When he comes to, he is shocked to discover that the woman had been murdered while he was unconscious. Before he can get far in his investigation, he is himself arrested for the murder, leaving Jack to solve the crime on his own. With the help of some new characters – the plucky lawyer, Nigellus Cobmartin; and the lovely Isabel Langton, niece of Gilbert and Eleanor of the Boar’s Tusk Tavern – and our old friend John Rykener, Jack takes on the mantle of The Tracker alone for the first time.

I have read and loved every other book in the Crispin series, which is set in late 14th-century London, and this one was no different. It is somewhat bittersweet to see Jack growing up, becoming a man, and meeting a girl he can seriously consider marrying. I still think of him as the little boy he was in the first book. At the same time, it is wonderful to see him grow and use the skills he’s learned at Crispin’s knee to save his mentor from the gallows. Westerson crafted a terrific story once again, full of twists and intrigue, and frankly a lot of frustration! Those sheriffs need a good swift kick. If it is infuriating to read about their petty tyrannies, how much worse must it be for poor Crispin to have to live and work with them. Another masterful job from Westerson. Highly recommended!...more

Set during the reign of William the Conqueror, A Land Divided details the unrest in Wales and the Welsh Marches. English lords behind the scenes pit the fractious Welsh royalty against one another as each fight to claim control of territory and thrones. Betrayal and battle are rampant, and no one ever really knows who is a friend or foe. Gruffydd ap Cynan, the deposed and exiled true king of Gwynedd, allies with Rhys ap Tewdyr, the king of Deheubarth, against Welsh and English factions who would see their kingdoms forced under the rule of William of Normandy. This is the tale of their struggles to reclaim their thrones from those they view as traitors.

This is a straightforward novel, simply told and with little embellishment, which may appeal to some who enjoy a direct style of narration. The action is fast-paced, though often it is at the expense of style; the author has a great tendency to tell rather than show the story. Overall, while the novel deals with a fascinating period of history, it lacks stylistic flair that would make it stand out....more

In Renaissance Florence, revenge rules supreme, and the feud between the powerful Medici and Pazzi families colors nearly every aspect of life. When Giuliano de Medici is brutally murdered in a church, his brother Lorenzo turns the city on its head to seek out his killers and deliver vengeance upon the hated Pazzis. A key piece of evidence, a portrait known as the Feast of Herod which depicts the conspirators, has disappeared from the Palazzo, along with Lapaccia, a woman from a renowned house. Her friends, women from diverse backgrounds who form a secret group of female artists, must recreate the missing painting to help restore peace to their beloved city and bring the missing woman back to the good graces of the Medici family. With the help of Leonardo da Vinci, the women risk their reputations, families, and lives to pursue their forbidden love of art and help draw out the conspirators seeking to wrest control of Florence from the Medicis.

Morin pens a tight narrative, with vivid imagery and complex plotting throughout. Her character development is good, though I would have liked to see more depth in some of the women in the group. However, because the novel focuses mainly on one of them, Viviana, it is forgivable that the others are not quite as well fleshed out. Morin’s research is thorough, and I enjoyed her use of Da Vinci as a mentor to the ladies. I look forward to reading the rest of the series....more

Set in London in 1388, The Silence of Stones is the exciting eighth installment of the Crispin Guest series. The novel opens, as anticipated, with action, in this case an explosion, after which it is discovered that the Stone of Destiny has been stolen from the coronation chair and replaced with a replica. King Richard II tasks Crispin with finding the Stone, which is thought to create kings. To “encourage” Crispin's best efforts, Richard imprisons his apprentice, Jack Tucker, with the threat of a traitor’s death if Crispin doesn’t find the Stone in three days. Crispin himself seems to be growing as a character, for he is less bitter about his situation in life than in previous books. His tracking skills are as keen as ever, though, and help make his compelling characteristics shine. Jack Tucker also is growing both as a character and as a boy. He manages a wonderful side job of his own, despite being under lock and key. It is wonderful to see him stretch his wings as a tracker and as a boy becoming a man. Henry Bolingbroke, Katherine Swynford, and, delightfully, John Rykener all make important appearances throughout the book as well. Despite his squeamishness, Rykener makes a terrific and funny sidekick, one who will hopefully continue the role in future novels, though of course not to replace Jack. For readers less familiar with Rykener, he was a 14th century cross-dressing prostitute. He had been arrested and interrogated, not for prostitution, but for cross dressing. Westerson’s Author’s Note goes into further detail about this intriguing historical figure. This is a satisfying and fast-paced tale, complete with Westerson’s typical dry humor and thorough research....more

A Brother’s Oath is the first of a trilogy about brothers Hengest and Horsa, Scandinavian raiders who were instrumental in the migration of the Vikings to England. This tells the story of their youth, which is unrecorded, and is thus rich subject matter for authors of historical fiction. The novel opens with good action, though it stalls a bit while the characters are built up and the various plot lines are introduced with approximately a third of the way through the pace picking up again. Once it did, this was an exciting read.

Hengest, the favoured elder son of a local warlord, and his brother, Horsa, fall out of favour with their father. Horsa decides, sooner than Hengest, to find his own way in the world and makes a name for himself as a raider. Hengest eventually makes a life with a woman of his own choosing. The brothers are reunited years later through treachery, hardship, and adventure.

Thorndycroft does a nice job throughout of showing the action rather than telling about it, and the imagery is vivid. Character development is similarly thorough, though parts felt more rushed than necessary. The book could do with another copy edit as there were quite a few minor punctuation errors, though they did not detract from the story itself.

The details of Viking culture are well researched and draw on extant Anglo-Saxon literature as a primary source. I especially enjoyed the poetry and phrases Thorndycroft worked into the dialogue and at the beginning of each new section....more

Really this is more of a 2.5 star book for me but I didn't want to give a lower count. Royal has the framework of a terrific series, but in this firstReally this is more of a 2.5 star book for me but I didn't want to give a lower count. Royal has the framework of a terrific series, but in this first installment, she kind of told rather than showed a whole lot. I read a ton of mysteries and even I found myself lost at times, wondering if I had missed something.

I do like Prioress Eleanor, Sister Anne, and Gytha. Thomas and John as well. The character development was actually quite good for such a short book.

The historical details are accurate as well, it was just a matter of telling about them rather than showing as I mentioned above. However, I can only assume this improves because this is just the first in a multi-volume series which is recommended by several authors whose opinions I value. So I will gladly read more after this one. It wasn't bad at all, just wasn't one that grabbed me right off the way some have done....more

What can I say? This was another fantastic entry in the Crispin Guest series. I still lNow I want to read Harry Potter again. Nicholas Flamel, indeed!

What can I say? This was another fantastic entry in the Crispin Guest series. I still like Blood Lance the best, but this one was excellent, with alchemy, rebellion stirring, a kidnapped woman, and poison.

In this installment,Holy cow. I thought Demons Parchment was my favorite Crispin Guest book. Nope, not anymore. Blood Lance ousted it for first place.

In this installment, Crispin begins by narrowly avoiding a fine for roughing up some gents of the Watch because he heroically dives into the Thames after a man who fell in. Too bad for the man he was murdered. Now Crispin, along with trusty sidekick Jack Tucker, are embroiled in the search for the man's murderer, who may or may not have been betrothed to the vixen Crispin can't stop thinking about, and a quest to save an old friend's honor. Oh, and the way to solve all the mysteries is to find a relic which might be the spear that allegedly poked Jesus in the side during the crucifixion.

Also? The joust on London Bridge? OMFG, brilliant!!

Chaucer makes more appearances, yay! And a sad farewell to Abbot Nicholas.

I was fascinated by the thought of knights suffering from PTSD. But why not? Just because they weren't dealing with chemical gases and trench warfare as they in WWI, or as aerial dogfights and bombings and The Holocaust like in WWII doesn't mean they didn't still have to deal with siege conditions, starvation, terror, disease, pain, s seeing friends die screaming, etc. In many ways, I think war in the Middle Ages would have caused more instances of PTSD, or at least unique brands of it, for it must have been a very personal thing to have to look someone in the eye as you kill them. To know that you had to do that to survive, and to see the aftermath of it...I can easily understand why knights would have suffered PTSD, even if they wouldn't have understood it.

Altogether, another excellent entry and I highly recommend it to all and sundry!...more

Another fun installment in the Crispin Guest series. This go round, Crispin is charged by the Archbishop of Canterbury to help find the bones of the sAnother fun installment in the Crispin Guest series. This go round, Crispin is charged by the Archbishop of Canterbury to help find the bones of the sainted Thomas Becket, which had apparently been stolen in a heretical Lollard plot. Along the way, Crispin and Jack met up with Crispin's old friend Geoffrey Chaucer (yay, Chaucer!) and several of the pilgrims from The Canterbury Tales. The Wife of Bath is much less abrasive in this tale than she is under Chaucer's pen. She is, in fact, my favorite secondary character in this story, kind and steadfast.

As well as missing saint's bones are two murders, for which Chaucer gets himself accused, a bishop accused of extortion, a troubled young girl, and Jack, who suddenly finds himself on the cusp of puberty. Yayyy. Everyone's favorite time of life.

Overall, another terrific and well researched entry. I eagerly five into Blood Lance next!...more

My system of categorizing and scoring books cannot be explained in fewer than 350 words, and a book review isn't really the place to do it anyway. GenMy system of categorizing and scoring books cannot be explained in fewer than 350 words, and a book review isn't really the place to do it anyway. Generally, a book only get gets 5 stars from me if it makes me howl with laughter, or sob, or is in some way life changing. Most mysteries do not fit these criteria.

That said, The Demon's Parchment comes awfully bloody close, no pun intended, to getting a higher rating simply because of all the various social topics it discusses. As a mother, I can hardly stand stories that deal with children being hurt. Ms Westerson did a wonderful job handling that distasteful topic, not making it into something that would require me to refill my Xanax prescription at warp speed. I didn't have to endure pages of skimming over descriptions of children being brutalized and tortured, for which I am exceedingly grateful. I am also grateful for the fury and horror that drives Crispin to find the murderer and stop him.

The subplot with the Jews was also intriguing, as I know little about this aspect of English society beyond the expulsion of the Jews by Edward I. I enjoyed seeing both Crispin and Jack grow beyond their inherent distrust and learn to actually listen to logic to learn something about the Jewish physician at court. They are light years ahead of many of their contemporaries in that regard.

John Rykener played a very small but vital role in this novel. I would have liked to have met him in real life. That is all.

The one drawback to the novel is that, strangely, I rather miss the diabolical Simon Wynchecombe. He had a cameo, but it was still somewhat like reading a Robin Hood take minus the Sheriff of Nottingham.

So far, this has been my favorite of the Crispin Guest novels. On to Troubled Bones we go!...more